This is Hawaiian music at its best, and in Blu-ray the concert is stunning.
Tools:
Recommend review to a friend »
Aloha!
If you've ever been to Hawaii, you know that the music scene there seems to be divided into three segments: tourist, contemporary, and traditional/historical. Think ukuleles, Don Ho, and "Tiny Bubbles" and you've got a fix on the first type, which is usually accompanied by lavish shows that incorporate such things as historically inaccurate fire dances (included, no doubt, because they make audiences go "ooooohhh"). The second type sometimes electrifies the uke and incorporates elements of reggae, rap, or mellow Jack Johnson-style rhythms, all of it original. And the third? This type of music is played by the purists--those who hope to preserve Hawaii's uniquely original pre-contact music for generations to come.
That's what Keali'i Reichel obviously hopes to accomplish with his faithful and respectful performances of traditional songs, many of which were composed by Hawaiian royalty like King David Kalakaua or Queen Lili'uokalani. Almost all of the songs are accompanied by historically accurate hulas, one of which we're told was in danger of being lost. Even Reichel's own compositions are written and sung in traditional style, with accompanying interpretive hulas blending almost seamlessly with the historical music and dance. And you can tell these folks are purists because the dancers are of all ages and sizes--not just the postcard beauties you see in grass skirts at the tourist luaus. The dances begin after Keali'i sings a long, traditional a cappella chant, bare-chested and wearing a simple loincloth.
Reichel has a smooth, tenor-baritone voice that seems perfectly suited to the ceremonial chant he opens with in this 2006 performance at the Neil S. Blaisdell Concert Hall in Honolulu, which is augmented by a segment recorded at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center in Kahului the previous year. Ironically, the Honolulu performance--played for an audience of mostly locals but some visitors--incorporates some of the same glitzy gimmicks associated with the tourist affairs. Behind the stage are three huge monitors that show scenes of Hawaii (including underwater and overhead) throughout the concert. And in the beginning, there's smoke and colored lights.
Maybe if you were there it would have been a different story, but when you watch at home you find your screen chopped in thirds visually, with the top third occupied by those gigantic screens, the middle third the stage, and the bottom third the first rows of audience, it takes away from the focus of the dancers and music. There are far too many long shots, and not nearly enough close-ups. And while it's meant to signify something spiritual, the whistling wind effects and the clouds beamed up on those monitors, combined with red, blue, and green colored smoke, can have the opposite effect. It can seem cheesy.
Thankfully, when smoke soon clears we're able to focus more on the dance and music. Twenty-six songs are performed here, and all but one of them (by guest Ben
Vegas) are sung in the Hawaiian language. The most popular song you'll recognize is "Pupu A'o 'Ewa," or "Pearly Shells."
Reichel's instrument is a distinctively shaped Koa wood 6-string guitar, and he's backed by Henry Alau Kauka Koa on 12-string guitar, Joshua Kahula on 6-string guitar, Moses Kane Jr. on bass, and Naomi Stephens, Lance Winston, and Liam Selwyn on background vocals. Some 60 dancers share the stage in rotation, 30 or so in some of the bigger numbers, and a single solo dancer for others. Mostly, the dancers wear long skirts over plain tops, with traditional leis made of leaves or flowers, worn as well on the ankles, wrists, and headdress. Not all the dancers are female. For the Uncle George segment, a number of males dress the same as the females and perform hulas taught by one of the legendary masters, who died in 2006. Even when Reichel changed from traditional dress to a pair of white slacks and a green Henley shirt, he remained barefoot like the rest, and his easy-going narrative was a smooth as his vocals. No cheese here.
This guy is passionate about ancient and traditional Hawaiian music, and he's a very good ambassador. Reichel was a college lecturer, a pre-school teacher, a cultural specialist for a museum, and a hula master before he turned to song. And so when he introduces a song, he gives a lesson in ancient Hawaiian history and culture. That's one of this concert's chief strengths. You also manage to learn a little Hawaiian in the process.
Reichel has been putting out albums of music since 1995, but this concert, which is also available on DVD, is another step for him. The song selection follows a progression from chants and pure Hawaiian music to Western-influenced traditional music and finally contemporary compositions. One of the songs comes from his album "E O Mai," three come from "Kamahiwa," one comes from "Ke' Alaokamaile," three come from "Melelana," and a number of songs seem to have been produced for the first time. Here's the rundown of songs:
Ka Wai A Kane
Mele Kahea
Mele Komo
Ho'opuka E Ka La Ma Ka Hikina
Ke Welina Mai Nei Ke Kini O Lalo
Halehale Ke Aloha
Kanaka O Ke Kai
'Au'a'la
Hula Kolani No Lono
Ka 'Eha A Ke Aloha
Pupu A'o'Ewa
E O Mai
Ia 'Oe E Ka La
Koali
Maunaleo
Ipo Lei Momi
Mele A Ka Pu'uwai
Pua Nani (featuring Ben Vegas)
He Wehi No Lili'uokalani I Ke Kapu
Adios Ke Aloha
Ko Ma'I'Auka Kula La A Keu
Melalana
Average user rating (1-5):
Not yet rated.
Not yet rated.
[release]23903[/release]